April 1998 (Revised June 1998)
Case
HBS Case Collection

Road Well Traveled, The (Condensed)

Format:Print
| Pages:5

Abstract

Presents the conclusions of a 1992 mail survey of Harvard MBAs who started their own businesses. Questions focused on 4 areas: 1) development of the business concept, 2) sales and marketing, 3) finance, and 4) building a staff. The entrepreneurs surveyed include 24 in consulting, 17 in professional services (most financial), and 46 in "traditional" ventures ranging from farming to manufacturing to long-distance phone service. Throughout, the survey responses are directly compared with those from an earlier study of 100 entrepreneurs drawn from the "Inc. 500" list of fast-growing new businesses. Despite differences in the education and capital resources of the two groups, they are shown to be remarkably similar. Includes 82 exhibits and concludes with a summary of "travel tips" for aspiring entrepreneurs. Points to skills, attitudes, and knowledge that will help students considering entrepreneurial careers. Also contains a wealth of data that can provide useful background information on virtually all the topics that a typical entrepreneurship course covers.